Il Blog di Holyart.com
Christmas is a multi-faceted holiday. Besides its religious meaning, that is, recalling Our Lord Jesus’ birth every year, it is also filled with remainders from more ancient traditions, which transformed thoughout the centuries and adapted to the Christian message, gaining a new value. In fact,…
When we think about Christmas, the first image we have in our minds is probably a spruce decorated with bright lights and colorful hangings, full of delicate and shiny knick-knacks, golden and silver garlands, red ribbons, and crowned with a pointy or star-shaped tree topper.…
‘There is nothing greater and more fruitful than love: it bestows all dignity to the person, while, on the contrary, hatred and vengeance decrease it, marring the beauty of the creature made in God’s image.’
Pope Francis uttered that during the Angelus in Piazza San Pietro on Sunday, February 24 2019. We chose to open our article with that, as we want to commemorate Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s actions who became the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome from March 13 2013. It is also a wish for all of his achievements during these years to keep animating and inspiring the Church.
It is not by chance that the sentence we chose is about love. Love, and in particular the love God feels towards us, is the core of Pope Francis’ doctrine, who never gets tired of repeating how unique and special it is. The Pope often speaks about what he calls ‘The gratuity of Salvation’. We are so used to hear that Jesus, son of God, descended to Earth for love, to save us, and that he died for us, that we don’t even realize the greatness of such revelation anymore, as if we would be afraid in recognizing it. The Pope invites us to rediscover the mystery of this love every day, a limitless love, and to welcome it with the wonder it deserves.
But not just that. Pope Francis always reminds us that Jesus’ message for us was a message of love, and even more, an example of love for God Father, but also for brothers and sisters: “And for that, Jesus says: ‘The greatest love is this: loving God with all our life, heart, strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves’. Because that’s the only commandment that is worthy of the gratuity of salvation of God. Then Jesus adds: ‘In this commandment are included all of the others, because that one calls all of the others’. But the source is love; the horizon is love. If you closed the door and took the key of love away, you will never be worthy of the gratuity of salvation you received.”
Therefore, it is not possible to separate prayer, the observance of Commandments, that is, love towards God, from the love for your neighbors: “Are we able to recognize God’s face in one another? We cannot separate the religious life from the other.”
Of course, the love Pope Francis talks about is not a love made of only good words, but made of concrete facts. “The true love is concrete, it can be found in works, and it is a constant love. It not just a mere enthusiasm.”
A Pope that speaks of love, then. Always ready to be humble, to kneel not just before God but also before men. Just think of the time he first showed on the Vatican Balcony on March 13 2013 to salute the crowd that came to praise him in Piazza San Pietro, and he wasn’t wearing any golden and ermine ornaments. Instead of blessing the people, he asked all of the present to bless him. “And now I would like to give the blessing, but first I want to ask you a favor. Before the bishop blesses the people, I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me — the prayer of the people for their Bishop. Let us say this prayer — your prayer for me — in silence”. No Pope had ever addressed the crowd with such simplicity.
The way of the Good Shepherd
Pope Francis led then his revolution, humbly and with love, and on such foundation, he has conducted his apostolic program for five years, and each crowd becomes a family. The Church he prophecies is a Church that goes forth, that goes where men are, on the streets of the world.
But how should men of church move? During the Mass celebrated on Monday, October 30 2017 at Santa Marta, the Pope defined that rule, that lifestyle that must come from the heart, as all Jesus actions did. ‘Jesus always shows this way, close. Many times in the Gospel we see that such closeness comes from what Jesus feels in his heart: ‘Jesus was moved’, says a passage of the Gospel, he feels mercy, he comes closer’.
Pope Francis indicates five verbs of closeness that Jesus experienced himself, and that should be an example of life and conduct for shepherds, but in general are valid for everyone: to see, to call, to talk, to touch and to heal. Nice words are not enough, we need to take action and touch those next to us with our own hands, especially if they’re suffering. The good shepherd must be meek and humble of heart, must not be ashamed of touching the wounded flesh, and cannot say: ‘Well yes, that’s fine, yes, I’m close to you in the spirit’.
Love again then, and closeness, presence. Because ‘a good shepherd is close, always’.
Pope Francis put his doctrine of love and humility at the base of a deep reformation in the approach to theological studies, aimed to sustain and promote the spread of his Church that goes forth.
The teaching of theology and doctrine must adapt to modern times, to the needs of the current world, like the language. It is not by chance that Pope Bergoglio wanted to reform the Vatican media as well, promoting initiatives as the documentary movie “A selfie with the Pope”, built thanks to the selfies taken by the faithful with the Pope during his journeys, celebrations and hearings. A Pop Pope, as the Rolling Stones magazine defined him.
Holyart cannot but reserve a special place in its catalog to articles related to Pope Francis, starting from the statues of Sleeping Saint Joseph. We all know that Pope Francis has always been devoted to this particular representation of a sleeping Saint Joseph. ‘On my desk I have a picture of a sleeping Saint Joseph. And while he’s asleep, he takes care of the Church! Yes! He can do that, we know. And anytime I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a little note on a piece of paper and put it under Saint Joseph, so that he can dream about it!’ said the Pope many times. There are also many other devotional objects dedicated to this revolutionary Pope, suitable for any special occasion, for example a First Holy Communion: party Favors, bracelets, rosaries, pictures, key holders with the picture of the Pope and papal cross of the Good Shepherd. Many ways to always remember him and feel him a bit closer every day.
Have you ever been fascinated by a wooden lectern holding a ponderous, ancient tome? Fine objects, today lecterns are not only a prerogative of churches. We can find wooden or even plexiglass lecterns in libraries, museums, restaurants and even private homes. What is a lectern…
Decoupage is an art that merges relatively new techniques with artisanal mastery. Russian decoupage boxes are an example of how ancient sacred and famous images can be reinterpreted in an original way to create beautiful furnishing accessories that fit into any house. There are many…
The cult of the saints has very deep roots.
In every age and civilization there have been displays of celebrations and devotion for famous and ‘special’ men and women, who stood out in their lives for actions, works and thoughts. It would be reductive to consider the cult of the saints a derivation of such idealization of exceptional deaths.
In the new Christian world, risen from the ashes of the Roman Empire, still dangerously influenced by pagan rituals and millenary beliefs, the cult of the saints is at the beginning a heritage of old traditions. The devotion towards saints and martyrs comes from a condition of instability and turmoil due to the deep social, psychological and even urbanistic changes.
The cult of the saints is born and grows simultaneously to the inner and outer changes experienced by the Church since its origins. Bishops officialized and encouraged it since the beginning, but we must not think of it as a form of popular religiousness, limited to the ignorant small people, still upset by pagan legends and stories, nor as a way to convert ignorant masses more easily. We must not think that this religious display, born in cemeteries and at the tombs of the blessed, involved only women and poor people, the forever ‘weak’ ones, excluded from the ‘high’ religion. It is not like that. On the contrary, the cult of the saints involved all social classes since the beginning, eliminating the barriers between rich and poor, between men and women.
On one side, it is true that the will to invoke invisible protectors can be tied to ancient pagan beliefs. On the other side though, it is the first time that believers do not turn to supernatural beings, but to deceased people, who lived and acted in a historical context that is not too far from theirs.
The Latin word ‘sanctus’, past participle of sancīre, meant something inviolable. And that is what a Saint is, a human being tied to the divinity, and as such, worthy of veneration and respect. At the same time, they are protectors, someone to turn our prayers to, so that, strong with their sanctity, they can work as an intermediary between us and God.
Holyart always hosted many in-depth articles about the cult of the saints in its blog. To name a few: Saints that changed the world, or more specific ones Saint Augustine of Ippona: philosopher, bishop and theologian, Saint Agnes: story of a virgin and a martyr, or even Padre Pio and the Order of the Capuchin Friars Minor.
Today we talk about Saint Teresa of Avila, Spanish nun and mystic.
Her real name was Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Dávila y Ahumada, born on March 28th 1515 in Avila, Spain. There in Avila, she entered the Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation at the age of 20, taking the name of Teresa of Jesus. Her youth was marred by a serious disease, which forced her to bed for a long time. For four days, she was even in a coma, as dead. But that didn’t prevent her from living a full religious life, and to become one of the most important figures of the Catholic Reformation. Since she was young, she actively participated in the reformation of the Carmelite order, and in 1562, she founded the first Reformed Carmelite convent in Avila, followed by 16 more in the whole country.
Saint Teresa wrote many texts collecting the points of her mystic-spiritual doctrine.
First point, the evangelic virtues as basement of the whole Christian and human life. Such vision included the need to detach from earthly goods to embrace poverty, but also love of neighbor, humility, determination and theological hope.
But Saint Teresa also preached the need for a deep harmony with the great Biblical characters and for some sort of needed friendship between man and God. In her ‘Life’, talking about prayer, she wrote: ‘Mental prayer is a friendly intercourse, with him who we know loves us‘ (Life, 8:5).
Moreover, she deepened the subject of Christ’s humanity, lingering on the fact that Christian life should be a personal relationship with Jesus, based on love and imitation, with the final aim of uniting with Him. To get there, the Saint preached the need for meditation about the Passion and the Eucharist. All her human and religious life was reaching out towards this perfection of love, this fullness of and within Christ. In her most famous work, the ‘Interior Castle’, path of the soul looking for God, describes such fullness realizing in the union with Christ through the mystery of his humanity.
We like to think of Saint Teresa of Avila also for her deep modernity. On February 2 2011, during the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI said about her: ‘In our society, which all too often lacks spiritual values, St Teresa teaches us to be unflagging witnesses of God, of his presence and of his action. She teaches us truly to feel this thirst for God that exists in the depths of our hearts, this desire to see God, to seek God, to be in conversation with him and to be his friends. This is the friendship we all need that we must seek anew, day after day. May the example of this Saint, profoundly contemplative and effectively active, spur us too every day to dedicate the right time to prayer, to this openness to God, to this journey, in order to seek God, to see him, to discover his friendship and so to find true life; indeed many of us should truly say: “I am not alive, I am not truly alive because I do not live the essence of my life”. Therefore, time devoted to prayer is not time wasted, it is time in which the path of life unfolds, the path unfolds to learning from God an ardent love for him, for his Church, and practical charity for our brothers and sisters‘.
Saint Teresa was declared blessed in 1614, and then saint by Pope Gregory XV in 1622. Paul VI in 1970 included her among the Doctors of the Church, along with Catherine of Siena. She is celebrated on October 15th, the day of her death. It is said that her last word were: ‘O my Lord and my Spouse, the hour that I have longed for has come. It is time to meet one another.‘
The ecstasy of Saint Teresa, also known as Transverberation of Saint Teresa, is a marble and bronze sculptural group made between 1647 and 1652 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It is set in the Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome.
The statue depicts the Holy Mother with her head reclined, clothes are disordered, her eyes are closed and her mouth is slightly open; she is pierced by a beautiful angel with a flaming spear. In her writings, Teresa described this episode, specifying that it was actually the spear held by the angel that reawakened her love for God. It is a typical example of a mystic ecstasy representation, one of the recurrent themes in baroque art.
The statue expresses mysticism but also sensuality, as if the intensity of the religious feeling would invade her so much that she felt some sort of overwhelming passion, involving both mind and body.
Among other things, Saint Teresa of Avila also composed a beautiful prayer dedicated to the regret that we all feel sometimes of having wasted our time instead of using it to do something good. A very human and current feeling, to which the Saint gave her personal and sensitive interpretation.
God, in his endless benevolence, transforms even that lost time in something good, in a ‘benefit’. A consolation that is also a spur to do better in the future.
Here is the prayer.
O my God! Source of all mercy!
I acknowledge Your sovereign power.
While recalling the wasted years that are past,
i believe that You, Lord,
can in an instant turn this loss to gain.
Miserable as I am,
yet I firmly believe that You can do all things.
Please restore to me the time lost,
giving me Your grace, both now and in the future,
that I may appear before You in wedding garments
because, if You want it, You can do it.
Amen.
In our online store, you will find many articles dedicated to Saint Teresa of Avila: statues, rosaries, prayer cards and many more. Take the Statue of Saint Teresa of Avila with crown of natural thorns made of maple wood from Val Gardena into your home. It is carved in Italy in a company in Val Gardena; thanks to their skills in carving woods, they create works that are amazingly beautiful in both shape and kind. The statue is very detailed and refined to the detail, as you can see from the face details, the clothes and the hands.
It is a product of high prestige and quality. Very appreciated, the oval Medal of S. Teresa Avila in silver-plated metal, 1.5 cm tall, containing the portrait of the Saint. Suitable for any occasion, the Prayer Card of Saint Teresa of Avila, original prayer card from the company Fratelli Bonella. The image, printed on cardboard and decorated with golden motifs depicting Saint Teresa of Avila, has the novena dedicated to Her on the back side.
Sacred Icons. Only mentioning them evokes exotic and charming suggestions, a way to live religion that is far from the modern concept only at first glance. Let’s find out all the secrets of this ancient and exciting art. Holyart already talked about sacred icons in…
Each time we get sprinkled with holy Water, dipping our fingers in a holy water font and cross ourselves, we remember our Baptism. Since we were children, they taught us that each time we enter a Church, it is important that we dip our fingers…
The crucifix (also called crucified Christ, from the verb ‘to crucify’, hang with nails) is a fundamental symbol in Christian religion. It is, as we all know, the representation of Jesus on the cross at the moment of his death. Jesus is usually half-naked, his head leaning on his shoulder, his forehead ringed by a crown of thorns. His hand are nailed to the arms of the cross, his feet to the shaft. Two fingers of his right hand are bent to indicate number two, symbolizing the second person of the Holy Trinity. Jesus shows the wound inflicted by Longinus on his ribs. Usually, the writing I.N.R.I. is engraved just above his head, which means Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum). It is the Titulis crucis, that is, the reason behind his death sentence, which was mandatory in such executions.
Throughout centuries, many different iconographies spread to represent the Crucifixion, such as the Christus triumphans, Christ triumphant overs death, alive on the cross and in a frontal position with his head up and his eyes opened, popular since the XII century. The Christus patiens of Byzantine inspiration in the following century, represents a suffering Christ with his head on his shoulder, his eyes closed and his body tense because of the agony.
Among modern crucifixes, the stylized crucifixes are the most popular: they have pleasant, sober and elegant lines, but are also simple and essential for a new and unique design.
It is interesting to see how there have been so many reinterpretations, even though today the main representations of the Cross are based on medieval models; those reinterpretations are connected to the artistic style of the author, to the materials available, but also to the devotional expressions typical of the place they are made. Let’s think for example to some representations that are particularly raw in the South of Italy, or even more in South America or Mexico, where Jesus is often represented while bleeding and humiliated, surrounded by soldiers that act cruelly towards him, condemned by powerful ones, in an expression of the adverse fate people suffered throughout centuries of persecutions.
Besides the artistic representations and the evolution of the image of Jesus crucified, what we want to remind here is that the crucifix is a very powerful Sacramental for the Catholic Church. Here is the definition of Sacramental, as stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: ‘Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy’ (Catechism 1667)
Keeping a crucifix in our home is a way to always remember Jesus’ sacrifice, his immense love for us, but is also a way to keep evil away, because the crucifix is the symbol of Satan’s defeat. Each time our eyes will look at this precious image, we will be able to draw new strength from it to help us get rid of temptations and evil, strong with Jesus’ love for us and the immortal example of his great sacrifice.
There are crucifixes of any size and material, from wood to metal, often a precious one, and even glass. Art history is full of examples of such representation, made by famous artists as pictures, bas-relief or chiseling, for example the works by Giotto, Michelangelo, Cimabue, Donatello and so on.
We will present the crucifixes you will find in the Holyart catalog, and which you can comfortably choose from our online store. You will find wooden or silver crucifixes, wall or table crucifixes, and many other solutions that can be perfect for any home and furniture.
Saint Benedict Medal is a powerful Sacramental recognized by the Catholic Church. In particular, it is recommended as instrument for exorcisms and purification from evil influences. It has engravings on both sides. On one side, it shows Saint Benedict holding a cross in his right hand and the book containing his monastic Rule in his left hand. Other symbols (a broken cup, a raven and a poisoned loaf) recall episodes of the Saint’s life. On the back side of the medal, there is a big cross surrounded by the engraved words of a powerful exorcism.
In Holyart catalog, you will find the authentic Saint Benedict Crosses, in metal, olive wood and other fine woods, but also resin, neutral or colored, like the beautiful Medjugorje Crucifix with Saint Benedict Medal in size 26×18 cm, handmade by Medjugorje artisans. Or else, the wonderful Saint Benedict Cross with inlay work in wood, satinized and galvanized aluminum to protect it from deterioration over time, made of silver-plated brass. The body is nailed to the cross with nails on the back and the medal, with all of the letters, is not melted with the cross but manually inserted in the hole of the cross.
About ceramic, clay and porcelain, Holyart offers a wide variety of Crucifixes made of artistic ceramic, porcelain stoneware of various sizes and colors, of refractory clay made by the Ceramica Centro Ave of Loppiano (Florence), and porcelain models by the artist Francesco Pinton. An exquisite model is this Corpus Christi from Naples in terracotta, hand painted with oil colors, and glass eyes; it is 45 cm high and is a high quality handmade product made by Neapolitan highly skilled artisans. A more modern and stylized crucifix is this stylized Corpus Christi in refractory white clay, 44 cm high, handmade, hand molded in clay and then baked at more than 1000°C. Finishing and working are entirely handmade in order to give the object pleasant, sober and elegant lines.
In our store you will also find crucifixes with bases for tables or altar, in wood or metal, such as the Crucifix with curved cross base made of Valgardena colored wood (available also in wood color), handmade by artisans from Valgardena, who follow the best local artistic tradition. Artisans and artists carve Alps wood and paint it with mastery in each single detail. It is a very fine and high quality object.
In our store, you will find wooden crucifixes of any kind and size, from the most classic ones to more stylized and modern ones. The most used is olive wood; it is handcrafted in all of its details: the crosses, Christ’s bodies, the cherry tree, the fir tree and so on. The Medjugorje Crucifix in fir wood on roots is very particular; it is entirely handmade by woodworkers in Medjugorje (Bosnia Herzegovina), it is made of fir wood and it is sustained by roots. Wood is first cleared, then sealed, and later colored and varnished. A very high quality product with durability guarantee.
Holyart metal crucifixes are made of silver-plated or gilded bronze and brass by artisans that still use traditional techniques. Elegant and original lines for this Silver-plated and gilded metal crucifix, where the cross is made of silver-plated and gilded grapes and grapevines. Made by a small Italian firm with artisanal techniques, where metal undergoes multiple working phases to guarantee quality and durability.
Most of Holyart stone Crucifixes are handcrafted by the nuns of the Atelier d’Art of Bethlehem (France), or in Medjugorje stone from Mount Podbrdo. They are refined products, high quality and unique in their kind. For example, the Easter cross in Bethlehem stone, made of Pyrenees stones by the nuns of the Bethlehem Monastery in France, with artisanal techniques and a unique style, which make it an exquisite and high quality object.
Holyart glass and Plexiglas crucifixes are modern and innovative. These crosses are all handmade and are 100% Made in Italy. Some are reproductions of famous crucifixes from Italian art history, made of Plexiglas by important artists. Others are made of glass and have a modern style, but they are the result of a handcrafting, which comes from Murano artisan masters techniques. For example, the Topaz glass Crucifix with gilded body, a wall crucifix worked with a topaz effect and Christ’s body in gilded metal.
The Tau, symbol of Redemption and Cross that was so dear to Saint Francis, is once again in the Holyart wall Taus; they are made of different materials, such as olive wood, ceramic, leather, bark, and are all suitable to be hanged to the wall. One example can be the Olive wood Tau Cross: the tau shaped cross is made of olive wood and Jesus’ body is made of silver-plated brushed metal. It is made in Italy with only Italian materials.
Votive candles on gravestones brighten the too dark nights of cemeteries. They are like throbbing sentinels, small fragments of light drawing the path towards the light for our beloved deceased. Here is why they are so important. The cult of the dead has always been…
Christening, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage. Unique and unrepeatable occasions that mark humankind history, but also spiritual events that belong to every Christian. Let’s find out why it is better to choose a sacred party favor for those ceremonies Party favors are an essential element during…
There are exceptions, such as fashion or even luxury objects that can express the basic concepts of the Catholic religion through a new language, which is original and definitely glamorous. They are the Amen Collection jewels. Unique in their kind, they have become very popular in Italy and in other countries, offering a winning combination of fashion, elegance and spiritual expression. The concept is simple in its intensity: give words of faith to those we love every day, let them know they are not alone and that they are loved and protected, and that our spirit is with them in every moment, but most of all, Jesus is with them. The strength of faith, the love of God that is base and end of religion, a higher and universal love: in these jewels, all find an expression of great delicacy and intensity at the same time.
Where does this so innovative phenomenon come from? In 2012, the entrepreneur Giovanni Licastro first thought of creating jewels inspired to the Christian religion. An art made of special words. An idea that came from a faithful man turning to other faithful men, proposing jewels that can speak to the soul and that can express the spiritual commitment of those wearing them in every moment of the day. The design behind each single jewel of the Amen Collection is accurate and amazing. The challenge was of course not easy. It was about finding a new and modern way to reinterpret a spiritual language based on each one’s inner reality, memories, hopes, the most secret longings, but also on the respect due to religion in all of its displays. A delicate operation then, which generated a brand unique in its genre.
Faith is a choice that comes from within, a wish to belong to something bigger and more precious. It is an individual and conscious experience, which leads us to our deepest part and at the same time to that universal love represented by God. Amen jewels embrace a larger concept of love, which can be towards one’s husband or wife, a partner, children, friends, towards everyone.
The choice itself of the name, Amen, comes from the will to convey the religious message through these fashion objects. It is a sound that anyone in any country of the world can easily recognize, and vehicle of a universal faith. Amen is a Hebrew word adopted by the Christian liturgy as final formula for prayers and hymns. Its meaning can be summoned up as ‘surely’, ‘in truth’, ‘so be it’, but the etymological shades of the word Amen are many and deserve an article of their own. In the New Testament, Jesus introduces the fundamental principles he expresses with such word, and in doing so, he underlined their truthfulness: ‘Amen, amen I say to you’ – meaning: ‘Truly I say to you’, ‘What I say is true and certain’.
Amen jewels come from accurate studies and revolutionary creative processes, made of fine selected materials, metals, real leather, freshwater pearls, Murano beads, rhinestones, hard stones, and the utmost care for all details. In particular, Amen bracelets and necklaces are characterized by the innovative magnetic steel closure, the engraving technique used to carve words, and the color codes. The motto of the company says: Faith is Fashion. All production phases are carried out in Italy.
Amen Collections offer jewels of any kind: necklaces, bracelets, rings, wedding rings, rosaries, and so on. We want to linger in particular on the rings and bracelets that you can find in our online store.
Amen rings are amazing jewels, suitable for any occasion. The materials they are made of are carefully selected and give the rings an extra value, already excellent for their manufacture and elegance. Many models are suitable both for men and for women, and give a unique touch of style.
In Holyart catalog, you will find many models of Amen prayer rings, all made in Italy with hand worked silver 925, such as the prayer ring 1 cm thick in silver 925 and burnished rhodium finishing, and the Our Father prayer carved on. Or else, the Amen ring in silver 925 with or without Pink finishing, with the words of the Our Father or the Hail Mary carved on its surface. This model is also available in white silver 925 decorated with white rhinestones.
A very particular jewel is the Amen ring with small leaves represented on the inside of the ring, with rhodium finishing on a black rhodium background and embellished with black rhinestones, available in different sizes.
For those looking for a refined ring suitable for special events, there are more elaborated and precious models decorated with rhinestones, such as the Amen ring in rhodium silver 925 depicting the Tree of Life surrounded by a circle of white rhinestones, available in various diameter sizes. Alternatively, the Amen ring in silver 925 and black rhodium finishing depicting two angel wings in the center, about 2 cm long and embellished with black rhinestones. An Amen ring with a more masculine feel is the one made of silver 925 and burnished finishing; in the center an onyx cabochon cut stone is placed, resulting in a convex upper part and a flat base. On the sides of the stones, there are two Sacred Heart.
The Amen Collection bracelets are made in Italy. They are available in many materials, from leather to bronze, from silver to rubber, for all tastes and budgets.
The leather Amen bracelets are all made of hypoallergenic Steel 316L and vegetal tanning leather, nickel-free, cadmium-free and lead-free. Possible electrolytic rhodium/golden plates are nickel-free. Many have the words of the Our Father or the Hail Mary or other prayers carved on, but you can also find the Amen bracelet with the writing I love you in all the languages of the world, one with the Ten Commandments, one with quotes from Mother Teresa of Calcutta and those with Pope Francis prayer.
There are also bronze Amen bracelets with the Latin words of the Our Father carved on, the silver and Murano beads or freshwater pearls Amen bracelets, in various colors, with an angel pendant and the Italian words of the prayer Angel of God in silver 925.
Golden and rhodium lurex Amen bracelets are very modern and elegant, and can come also in pink and rhodium gold; they have a magnetic sphere for closing and opening of about 10 mm. The bracelet circumference is about 38 cm and it wraps around the wrist.
The rigid slave Amen bracelet is wonderful, has the Our Father prayer carved on a plate of about 8 mm. It is made of rhodium silver 925, is half-open and has rhinestones inserted at the beginning and end of the prayer.
The two rounds shiny thermoplastic Amen bracelets are modern and colorful. They are available in various colors and sizes, and the prayer Our Father is embossed in gold. They have a simple silver magnetic closure. More for the younger ones, the Amen bracelets in colored rubber are joyful and sparkly; the words of the Our Father are carved on, they have a magnetic closure in hypoallergenic steel 316L.
Amen jewels prices vary according to the type of jewel and most of all to the material they are made of. Of course, rubber or thermoplastic bracelets will be cheaper than the ones entirely made of silver, or decorated with pearls and rhinestones, but Amen will surprise you even with its prices, affordable for anyone. Give others and yourself a jewel that is unique in shape and meaning, a symbol of love and devotion that will join you in every moment and those you love
Chalices, pyxes and patens. In short: sacred objects. They have always been fundamental elements of Liturgy, and have evolved throughout centuries but never essentially changed their primary concept: storing Christ’s body and blood in a worthy way. There are specific rules that define the use…
Wrist cufflinks are elegant and refined accessories, which are only apparently old-fashioned. Both men and women can wear them, and they can turn into small unique and precious jewels, able to emphasize the personality of those wearing them. Let’s find out how they are made,…
In the past, strict and codified rules used to regulate clergy. Priests and friars could easily be recognized because of the clothes they wore. Not just that, it was also possible to tell immediately what religious order a man of Church belonged to according to the type of clothes he wore, the color of his tunic or his robe, whether he wore a scapular or not, a hood, and so on.
With modern times, these rules have changed. Nowadays priests need to move conveniently in order to fulfill their duties as spiritual guides, but also to be able to offer their help and support to the faithful in more practical and earthly matters.
At the same time though, the priest must keep on expressing his belonging to the Church and God with his clothes and looks, and somehow embody the presence of God among men.
In the article 284 of the Code of Canon Law, it is stated: “Clerics are to wear suitable ecclesiastical garb according to the norms issued by the conference of bishops and according to legitimate local customs.”
Pope John Paul II wrote in his teachings: “The pastoral care of the beloved diocese of Rome raises many problems to my mind, among which the one concerning the discipline of ecclesiastical clothing seems worthy of consideration, due to the pastoral consequences deriving from it. I expressed my thoughts on the matter several times in my meetings with priests, noting the value and meaning of this distinctive sign, not only because it contributes to the decorum of the priest in his external behavior or in the exercise of his ministry, but above all because it highlights the public witness that every priest is obliged to give in the ecclesiastical community about his own identity and special belonging to God.
Wearing clergy clothes is a way to remind themselves and others of their role and their spiritual closeness to Jesus then. The social and psychological impact is strong on those meeting with a man of Church, because it is like he brought a living witness of God around.
Nevertheless, many priests are intolerant to clergy clothing, some even refuse to wear the ecclesiastical collar. That alone would be enough to make the priest easily and quickly recognizable. The ecclesiastical collar was first introduced in the XIX century. It was once made of cotton or white linen, and was buttoned up around the neck, above clothes. Today collars are often made of plastic and can be replaced by a partial collar under the shirt or cassock collar, so that people can see only a small portion.
Among religious clothing, the clergyman is the practical and functional response to the priests’ need to be comfortable.
It is a suit for priests made of trousers, shirt and jacket. Jacket and trousers are usually black, grey or dark blue. Under the shirt collar, matching the color of the suit, goes the ecclesiastical collar, or anyway a white collar. Over the shirt, priests can wear a jacket, a waistcoat or a simple sweater for occasions that are more informal. Clergyman’s suits are a practical alternative to cassocks.
Holyart online catalog offers a wide variety of religious clothing. In our store, you can find shirts for priests and modern and functional ecclesiastical clothing such as clergyman shirts, jackets, waistcoats, round-necked shirts, sweaters, vests, fleece and polo shirts with clergy neck. All of the religious garments are made in Italy and guaranteed by the Marcellino brand and other famous brands. They are excellent products, elegant and with highly wearability; they include classic wool models with buttons and pockets, but also modern sweaters with zipper and pockets, warm and practical handcrafted wool vests, suitable to face the winter.
Clergyman shirts in the Holyart catalog are available in end-on-end, a perspiring fabric that is light and resistant, created by weaving two fine cotton, poplin or mixed threads. They are available in dark gray, light gray, light blue, white and black. Short or long sleeved, they are all excellent quality, elegant and comfortable to wear, with practical pockets and hidden buttons.
As an alternative to the clergy shirt, the modern priest can wear a practical polo shirt, with clergy neck and ‘civil’ collar. All polo shirts in Holyart catalog are produced by the Marcellino knitwear factory with fine and excellent fabrics in order to guarantee thin and practical shirts that are suitable even under a jacket. There are short and long sleeved models, all handmade and tailored in Italy.
Over the shirt or polo shirt, the priest can wear a jacket, a waistcoat, a round-necked sweater or a pullover. The sweaters made by Marcellino for Holyart offer solutions for all tastes and occasions, from the classic V-neck pullover to wool cardigans with buttons and pockets.
Besides clothing for priests, Holyart catalog proposes clergyman pins, which can be applied to jackets or shirts, in order to distinguish oneself with sobriety and elegance in any situation.
We can easily recognize priests and friars by the clothes they wear: the priest shirt and the friar tunic. Clergy clothing has its own rules and meaning, but footwear is also important. Let’s find out something more about that. An article dedicated to clergy footwear…
Symbol of light and grace given directly by God, the Saints halo expresses their bliss status and the divine majesty they are appointed with. The saints halo, the nimbus, the vesica piscis (or almond). The irradiating light has been present in art illustrations since very…
A crucifix, a religious picture, an icon of the Holy Family, a statue of the Virgin Mary. Sacred objects that we can find in any home, even in those where non-practicing families live. That’s because sacred images, statues of Jesus, Mary or a Saint, have always been present in the history of humankind and of each family, sign of real faith and belonging to God.
Sometimes we don’t even know where they came from, maybe from an old aunt or grandmother, in dusty basements or forgotten attics. More often we see them hanging on walls or in a special place in our living room, hall, or on a chest of drawers in our bedroom. Sacred objects belong to our lives, to our families’ lives, and remind us always that we are living in a Christian home and people living in it are baptized and live in the love of God.
But there is more to that. We all know that sacred objects, especially the blessed ones, are feared by the devil, and are one of the most powerful weapons men have to fight and defeat it with real faith. Therefore, a home with crucifixes, icons, sacred pictures or statues of the Virgin Mary will be protected from evil and will guard those living in it like a fortress.
In a previous article, we talked about blessings and sacramentals. They are sacred signs the Church established to gain mostly spiritual effects. That is, through sacramentals men can receive the main effect of sacraments in any moment of their life. Their use is often tied to a prayer or to a gesture, such as the sign of the hand, the sign of the cross, the sprinkling of holy water. Among sacramentals, we can include blessings, exorcisms, many types of popular devotion such as the various types of mercy, the adoration of relics, visits to shrines, pilgrimages, processions, the ‘via crucis’, religious dances, the Rosary, medals, etc.
Under that point of view, we can also consider sacred objects, or some of them, as sacramentals, since their action extends the effect of Baptism and other sacraments to some extent, bringing them back into our lives and homes in every moment.
Of course, all the power of sacred objects lies in what they symbolize, but it means nothing if it is not supported by the faith of those who live there. If it were not so, they would only be an excuse to abandon ourselves to superstition. Our life, lived according to faith and charity, makes sacred objects in our homes effective. Our good actions, the Christian and merciful attitude we have when relating to others, create some kind of good energy field, which amplifies and catalyzes with sacred objects. It is always the same old story: we must not live expecting other people to do our jobs, or that a magic formula recited the right number of times and with the appropriate intonation solve all of our trouble. God looks at us first, at our hearts and actions, and it’s in those things that He looks for a real intention of faith.
Nevertheless, sacred objects are useful reminders, in every moment they remind us that someone looks upon us, loves us and protects us, that someone being an endlessly good, patient and merciful Father.
We listed different types of sacred Christian objects that we can keep in our homes, from the wall crucifix to religious icons, from statues of the Virgin of Fatima to the statues of sleeping Saint Joseph, so dear to our beloved Pope.
Let’s examine some of them in detail, some that cannot miss in our homes.
The crucifix can also be considered as a sacramental; actually, it is maybe the most powerful among them. The crucifix is the symbol of the love that God feels towards us all, that love that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross consecrated, made evident and tangible, in the most painful and highest of ways. Exactly its being a strong symbol of love makes it a lethal weapon against evil, and the most powerful deterrent against spiritual enemies and negative energies. We should keep a wall or a table crucifix in every room, to never stop meditating on Christ and his sacrifice, especially when things are going bad and bad thoughts or temptations torment us. Today we can find crucifixes of any material and style on sale, which can therefore be suitable for any kind of interior design, become part of the ambien, and even make it more elegant and pleasant. Besides the classic table or wall crucifixes in wood or metal, we can find ceramic, clay, china, glass and plexiglas crucifixes. Styles range from classic, imitating the big ones we can see in churches, to real design objects with modern and stylized lines, made of translucent materials or silver, which can become refined furnishings. In particular, a modern wall crucifix can have multiple uses. Some are equipped with candleholders to become original candlesticks, while others are real design lamps, with innovative lines and a great visual impact.
A classic that is in many homes is the Crucifix of St. Damian. We talked about it in a previous article as one of the most famous sacred images in the world. The original crucifix of St. Damian is the one in front of which St. Francis was praying when he received the call from the Lord to renew His Church. It is stored in Assisi, place of pilgrimage for thousands of devotees from all over the world. The Crucifix of St. Damian is an example of the so-called triumphant Christ on the cross, born in the Eastern Church and very popular in Byzantine icons. Jesus is nailed to the cross, but does not look suffering. He’s not living agony, but the triumph of a King on a throne. The whole crucifix is full of characters and symbols, each one of them is placed in a meaningful way and has a fundamental role in the story that the object tells. An object permeated with spirituality, solemnity and a breath of strong faith.
The crucifix of St. Damian was reproduced countless times, and is available in various versions: for tables, to hang, or even to wear on our neck. It is mostly made of wood, material used for the original one, but there are also other variants in different materials, such as metal, ceramic, or even tapestry, with a refined Jacquard weaving and lined in satin.
Even a picture with a religious subject can be a sacred object we can show in our homes. Subjects can be many, from reproductions of famous scared art history works to completely original images. Traditional subjects are the Holy Family, the Virgin Mary, the Cherubs, but sometimes even Christ’s face, the Last Supper or the Annunciation. Besides traditional pictures, duplicates or prints, low relief silver religious pictures are very popular in homes, in various shapes and sizes. Usually the base of these pictures is a piece of wood with a sheet of embossed silver applied on it, sometimes enriched by golden details. Silver pictures are one type of modern religious picture. They usually have a support so that they can be placed on a piece of furniture, but they can also be hanged to the wall or placed as headboards.
Sacred icons are objects that have always brought all the spirit and mystery of a great religious tradition in every home. Sacred icons can be of various types, depending on the origin. For example, Romanian sacred icons come from the ancient Byzantine tradition and interpret the sacred representation in a more Western way than many other forms of art of the same kind. Russian icons were immediately recognized as cultural heritage not only for Russia, but also for the whole humankind, when they were showed to the world at the beginning of the 20th century during an exhibition in Paris. Ancient Russian icons express the real face of medieval religion, free from all frills and structures that accumulated with time and with the succession of the many world artistic waves. The symbolic and devotional meaning they are filled with has no equal.
An alternative can be Greek icons, handmade by artisans that draw inspiration from the ancient and strict rules of Byzantine art.
Byzantine icons on sale on Holyart are of Russian, Romanian, Greek and Polish origins, all of them authentic and carrying a certificate of warranty and origin. Holyart sacred icons are entirely handmade and tempera painted. That makes each icon unique. They often have warm and intense colors, and are enriched with small decorations in gold leaf.
The most recurrent subjects are the Virgin Mary, depicted as a mother of tenderness and love or during the Annunciation, and Jesus as a Good Shepherd and protector, but most of all the Holy Family.
Besides the icons coming from the Byzantine tradition, there are also modern and screen-printed icons.
Sacred icons are available in various models: they can be hanged, exposed on an easel, cross-shaped, printed on stone, wood or boxes, and even on typical Russian painted eggs.
There are many versions of statues of the Virgin Mary we can show in our home. It is always Jesus’ Mother, but depending on the main features of Mary, we could divide the statues of the Virgin into:
Each one of them has the physical features that were given to the Virgin during the apparitions.
We wrote much about the statue of the sleeping Saint Joseph, “holy protector of the family”, particularly dear to our beloved Pope Francis. In fact, Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose Saint Joseph as guide and protector since his youth. It is not by chance that his election as Pope fell exactly on Saint Joseph day, March 19th, 2013.
The statue of the sleeping Saint Joseph gives us an unusual image, but that is very popular among South American devotees: a sleeping Saint Joseph. The representation refers to the sleep during which God informed Joseph about the danger represented by King Eros, and encouraged him to love and protect Mary and the Baby. Joseph becomes then the prototype of the attached and devoted father, who takes on the responsibility of his spouse and son, and defends them at the cost of his own life, taking care of them and respecting them. What better image to be a protector of the family?
If you choose to keep a statue of sleeping Saint Joseph in your home, you could do as Pope Francis does: he sometimes puts notes under the statue with his doubts, his problems, but also requests for grace from devotees as reminders, so that Saint Joseph can take them to God’s attention. In the case of the Pope, for the love of all of his sons, while in your case, to help you protect your family during hard times.
